The Minnesota Swarm have struggled once again this year to get the winning of games down consistently. This season has seen the Swarm only win three games out of their nine games played, and only really dominate one game against the New England Black Wolves. The go into Sunday nights tilt in the Mile High City with a 3-6 record and in last place in the East Division, sitting at five and a half games back of the division leading Toronto Rock.
The Colorado Mammoth are in a separate boat completely, from the Swarm. The Mammoth sit in the second slot of the West Division with a record of 4-5. Although only being win ahead of Minnesota the Mammoth are only one game behind the Edmonton Rush, who lead the West with a record of 5-4.
The Swarm are on the second game of a two game weekend. The first game did not fall the Swarm’s way, losing a tight 10-9 game to the New England Black Wolves. The one days rest in between the games should help the Swarm with the travel and jet lag that the team will have.
The two teams have not seen each other for almost three and half months, the last game being the season opener for the two on January third. That games was a thriller for the first three quarters but saw the Mammoth come out on top of a 20- 13 game.
Since that game the Swarm have struggled to find consistent goaltending and a consistent offense game in and game out. Brodie MacDonald, the goaltender the Swarm traded fro in the off season has not panned out in the fashion they had hoped. The Swarm have gotten relatively decent goaltending from Zach Higgins, a third year man from Davenport University, who has taken the brunt of the games since the January third matchup. Higgins is sitting a saves percentage of 75.7 percent, which was roughly his average last season through 18 games, and a goals against average of 12.6, once again right around his number from last season. Higgins has been average unfortunately the Swarm will need him to be above average if they want to see a turn around to this season. With nine games left, including tonight’s, the Swarm will need to make some quick adjustments if they want to be involved in the playoffs this year.
The Mammoth have been getting some very good play out of guys like John Grant Jr. and from Adam Jones, who have 51 and 50 points respectively. JGJ is leading the team in assists with 33, where Jones leads in goals with 24. The Mammoth goalie unfortunately has been another story, Dillon Ward has seen his numbers slip some from last year when he made a huge name for himself both during the NLL season but also at the World Championships. Ward sits, currently, with a save percentage of 74.8 percent and goals against average of 13.1. neither are what the Mammoth or Ward would hope for after last year’s stellar performances.
Neither team is having the season they expected or want to have, and with under a dozen games left on the season both teams have a lot on the line. The Swarm are looking to turn their season around and the Mammoth will be looking to make strides in taking the first spot in the West Division from the Edmonton Rush
The Swarm and Mammoth meet at 8pm EST at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. The game will be on WatchESPN/ESPN3.
